• November 14th 2012, 02:19 PM
I have a math problem and the answer to it. The only problem I have is that I cannot figure out how to get the answer given. I have posted a picture of the math problem below please help me understand this math problem. I would greatly appreciate it.
• November 14th 2012, 02:28 PM
Note that 5p^2 + 16p - 16 = (p+4)(5p-4), which helps somewhat. Make it a habit to try and factorize quadratics when given this kind of problem to aid in finding easy common denominators.

In this problem, we could make the common denominator of each term (4-5p)(5p-4)(p+4).

For example, this would mean that in the first term the numerator would be 8(5p-4)(p+4).
Do the same for the other two terms.
Combine the terms.
Simplify the numerator.
Divide by monomials ex. (4-5p),(5p-4),(p+4) if possible.

done. :)
• November 14th 2012, 02:34 PM
Im still confused could you elaborate a little more?
• November 14th 2012, 02:37 PM
What would you like elaborated?
• November 14th 2012, 03:03 PM
Attachment 25722 here is where im stuck I got to this point I dont know what to do now?
• November 14th 2012, 03:12 PM
Assuming that your expansions are correct, all that's left to do on the numerator is to collect like terms. In this example, we can reorder the numerator as

40p^2 - 10p^2 -5p^2 + 160p - 32p -8p -40p + 4p + 20p - 128 + 32 - 16 which can be rewritten as
(40 - 10 - 5)p^2 + (160 - 32 - 8 - 40 + 4 + 20)p + (-128 + 32 - 16)

Simplify, and then you're done. :)
• November 14th 2012, 04:30 PM
alright so i have combined everything and I am stuck again. 25p^2+104p-112/(4-5p)(5p-4)(p+4) I dont know what to do from here to get the answer am I even close it says the answer is -9p-44/(5p-4)(p+4)
• November 14th 2012, 04:44 PM
(-9p-44) * (4-5p) = 45p^2 - 36p +140p - 176 = 45p^2 -104p - 176 , so somewhere along the way you did not expand correctly. You are close, however. Try again from scratch and use the same general process I introduced. If you cannot solve it after a meaningful effort, I'll write a full detailed solution.
• November 14th 2012, 05:41 PM
alright so i have combined everything and I am stuck again. 25p^2+104p-112/(4-5p)(5p-4)(p+4) I dont know what to do from here to get the answer am I even close it says the answer is -9p-44/(5p-4)(p+4)
• November 14th 2012, 06:11 PM
Idk what to do. Ive been working on this same problem all day for like probably 5 hours now. Could u help me out and give me a detailed solution
• November 14th 2012, 06:14 PM
Alright, here's a detailed answer. You must have done something wrong in the middle steps, but the concept of common denominator is still the same. Let us consider each term seperately and simplify

$\frac{8}{4-5p} = \frac{8(5p-4)(p+4)}{(4-5p)(5p-4)(p+4)} = \frac{40p^2 -32p + 160p - 128}{(4-5p)(5p-4)(p+4)}$
$\frac{-2}{5p-4} = \frac{-2(4-5p)(p+4)}{(4-5p)(5p-4)(p+4)} = \frac{10p^2 + 32p - 32}{(4-5p)(5p-4)(p+4)}$
$\frac{(p-4)}{(5p-4)(p+4)} = \frac{(p-4)(4-5p)}{(4-5p)(5p-4)(p+4)} = \frac{24p - 5p^2 - 16}{(4-5p)(5p-4)(p+4)}$

Combining the fractions and like terms like we did before we get
$\frac{45p^2 + 184p - 176}{(4-5p)(5p-4)(p+4)}$

While not immediately obvious
$\frac{45p^2 + 184p - 176}{(4-5p)(5p-4)(p+4)} = \frac{-9p-44}{(5p-4)(p+4)}$

since (4-5p) divides (45p^2 + 184p - 176). You can use polynomial long division to verify.

If you have any more questions, let me know. I still want you to practice your skills and challenge your knowledge base so you are ready for exams EDIT:// computation error.
• November 14th 2012, 07:34 PM
Wilmer
    p - 4            8          2 =============== - ======== - ======== (p + 4)(5p - 4)    5p - 4    5p - 4  p - 4      8    2 ======== - === - === k(p + 4)    k    k